Space Approves Referendum To ‘Decolonize’ Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Space handed a invoice Thursday that may permit Puerto Rico to carry the first-ever binding referendum on whether or not to change into a state or achieve some type of independence, in a last-ditch effort that stands little likelihood of passing the Senate.

The invoice, which handed 233-191 with some Republican beef up, would provide citizens within the U.S. territory 3 choices: statehood, independence or independence with loose affiliation.

“It is necessary to me that any proposal in Congress to decolonize Puerto Rico learn and led through Puerto Ricans,” mentioned Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., chairman of the Space Herbal Sources Committee, which oversees affairs in U.S. territories.

The proposal would devote Congress to just accept Puerto Rico into america because the 51st state if citizens at the island licensed it. Electorate additionally may make a choice outright independence or independence with loose affiliation, whose phrases can be outlined following negotiations over overseas affairs, U.S. citizenship and use of the U.S. buck.

Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, who has labored at the factor all over his profession, mentioned it was once “an extended and torturous trail” to get the proposal to the Space flooring.

“For a long way too lengthy, the folk of Puerto Rico were excluded from the whole promise of American democracy and self-determination that our country has at all times championed,” the Maryland Democrat mentioned.

After passing the Democrat-controlled Space, the invoice now is going to a break up Senate the place it faces a ticking clock earlier than the top of the yr and Republican lawmakers who’ve lengthy adversarial statehood.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, of the pro-statehood New Revolutionary Celebration, traveled to Washington for the vote. He referred to as it a ancient day and mentioned the three.2 million U.S. electorate who continue to exist the island lack equality, shouldn’t have truthful illustration within the federal govt and can’t vote typically elections.

“This has now not been a very easy combat. We nonetheless have paintings to do,” he mentioned. “Our quest to decolonize Puerto Rico is a civil rights factor.”

Participants of his celebration, together with Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González, cheered the approval of the invoice, even though response within the U.S. territory was once in large part muted and tinged with frustration since it’s anticipated to be voted down within the Senate.

The proposal of a binding referendum has exasperated many on an island that already has held seven nonbinding referendums on its political standing, and not using a vast majority rising. The final referendum was once held in November 2020, with 53% of votes for statehood and 47% in opposition to, with just a little greater than part of registered citizens collaborating.

The proposed binding referendum will be the first time that Puerto Rico’s present standing as a U.S. commonwealth isn’t integrated as an choice, a blow to the principle opposition Fashionable Democratic Celebration, which upholds the established order.

Pablo José Hernández Rivera, an lawyer in Puerto Rico, mentioned approval of the invoice through the Space can be “inconsequential” just like the approval of earlier expenses in 1998 and 2010.

“We Puerto Ricans are bored with the truth that the New Revolutionary Celebration has spent 28 years in Washington spending assets on sterile and undemocratic standing tasks,” he mentioned.

González, Puerto Rico’s consultant in Congress, praised the invoice and mentioned it might give you the island with the self-determination it merits.

“Many people aren’t in settlement about how that long run will have to be, however all of us settle for that the verdict will have to belong to the folk of Puerto Rico,” she mentioned.

Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.